The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-11-10
sHAKY HILL.
One of the Wonders of the HoOsiet state
An Almost Constant Vibration of
tIte Earth.


During the recent natural gas craze |
which swept over Indiana, and which |
has, to some extent, abated in this
section, says a telegram from
Ind, frequent mention was
made of the feasibility and probable
results of boring for the inf1amnable
fluid on "Shaky HILL" There are many
who are positive in their belief that
gas can be found there, and in
abundance too. There are others
who claim that it would be the last
place in the world for gas or oil, but
it is certain that the locality or chill
is attended with very mysterious phe-
nonaena.
Ever since the first settlement of the
country frequent reports have been
sent out that the hill and surrounding
land had been qnaking, and we have
the word of numerous responsible and
well-known farmers for the truthful
ness of the statement.
The hill in question is part of low
ridge OF land running east and west
some two miles south, the hill,
comprising about twelve acres.
being southwest two and one-haf
miles, in the northeastern corner OF
Fayette county, and lies about three
hundred yards from the j. NJ. & l.
railroad track. The land was entered
in 1916 by Thomas Reagan, whose son
Wiley Reagan. settled upon the hill in
1922 Your correspondent met today
two gentlemen who probably know
more about the, circumstances sur
roundings the peeular actions of the
hill, or rather plateau. than any Others.
One, the s0n-in-law of Wiley Reagan,
said:
The land on which it is situated was
bought sixty-iive years ago by Wiley
Reagan, my father-in-law, an early
settler, who improved the farm ami
built log house on the highest
part of it, the part lying east
of small creek. Soon after the
family occupied tine house they dis
covered that at intervals there was
a pronounced disturbance of the hill,
as if moved or shaken by earthquake
this, too, while other sections of the
country were undisturbed, This con-
tinued for several years, and finally
Increased and become so marked that
the Reagan family became alarmed
and built new cabin across the creek
This was done because they feared and
expected some dire calamity would be-
fall them should they remain on the
hill, not that they were superstitious,
as has been said, but because they
were afraid the land would sink or
break up-at least, they thought it
safer on more stable ground. Right
here it may be said that in several
places in this country large portions
of ground are found which look to
have sunk or dropped below the level
of the surrounding region. The
cabin was removed and there has been
no dwelling very near the hill since.
The character of the disturbances re-
sembles the sensation produced by an
earthquake, perceptibly shaking the
| house, various articles of furniture,
and especially the cupboard and its
contents of dishes, etc.; shaking the
clothes line, sometimes causing it to
fall, with its load of washing. The
| disturbances. as far as known, have
not occurred asfrequently as formerly;
but as the locality has for long time
been a part of large open field, the
| chances for observation have been
limited. aud it may have shaken many
times without having been felt by per-
| sons.
| "On a number of occasions the house
nearest the hill. to the narth east. was
affected in a similar manner, and at
| one time the cellar wall of this house
was badly cracked and rendered useless
The peculiarities of this hill-thal
it has repeatedly shaken, and that the
phenomena stated actually took place
is authenticated by many of R-agan's
nearest neighbors among whom were
Samuel Baldwin, Joab Ra lis and
many others now dead. AMI of the
living Mr.. Hopper. Samuel Morris,
Linville Ferguson end Milton Thorn
burg the last two gentiman are direc
| tors of the First National bank of this
| place.)
'.There is nothing peculiar OF differ
ent from the ordinary in this
or adjoining lands to point tc
anything strange, excepting large
sulphur spring at the foot of the hill il
| a quagmire that seems to have nc
| bottom.
In this last statement the gentleman
| suggests theory to account for the
| strange behavior of the hill 1t i:
| probably that the elevation has fol
IFS foundation q thin stratum ol
| Niagara rock resting on this bog. 4
slight disturbance would capse thi.
rock to vibrate. and this motion trans
ferred to the hill would produce de.
cided shock
The gentleman further stated: s'In
more recent years persons living i'm.
mediately west of the hill have noticed
an odor of coaltar in damp weather
when the wind blew from the east.
Also, that in digging cellars, wells,
| etc, large assures were fonnd partly
| filled with substances closely resem.
bling cinders, ashes. etc. -
AT one time II laborer was hired to
dig well near the house. but aftel
| going down some twenty feet the tools
caused such hollow sounds the man
came up instantly, declaring he
wouldn't finish it as he was afraid the
"botton would fall ont"
Mr. Byram Baldwin, who owns the
farm, states that TO his certain
knowledge the hill has been ..shaky''
for over tifty-seyen years. He has
experienced ths peculiar sensations,
| and, only about two months ago his
| wife and hired hand felt a violent lar
about O'Clock in the morning. Their
dwelling is about three e-eighths of a mile
from the hill. OF large apple.
orchard set out by Mr.. Reagan only
one tree remains, the. rest have died
or were cut down. One day in the fall
of 1888 nearly all the ripe apples were
shaken from the tree BY the qnaking.
Dir. Baldwin says that while driving
near the hill Saturday night with his
wife they were startled by three sud-
den flashes of light, produced by balls
of fire. which shot up into the air one
hundred feet. much like a sky-rocket.
it is said on good authority that this
is of frequent occurrence, and it is
no doubt caused by tbs com mbnstion OF
light earburetted hydrogen, commonly
called marsh gas or ..jaek-o lantern.
Another peculiar feature of this
place Is that the needle Of the compass
will not point to the magnetic pole. but
inciines to the east. The temperature,
too, is unlike that Of the surrounding
region. The same thermometer will
show change of several degrees in
going from different parts of the farm
IL